Does the Australian Distributor/Importer for North read this forum?

There are a number of people over on kiteforum unhappy about service over the problem of defective Rhino/Vegas 07 T Valves, e.g.

www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2341221&start=20&sid=20578c4183bbe886f317d16c198919d2
http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2341255&sid=34347d5968313d97b7ed499fd81cbf3a

Australia unfortunately got a number of the bad batch, but it does seem that replacement strut bladders in Australia have also been faulty. Service has clearly been much better in other countries and the Australian distributor seems to have gone to ground.

Simon

Seems to me that JB and Em work for the naish/north importer... or am i mistaken? they seem to be on the forum alot and if they do work for north and read these topics and do nothing, then something is fishy...

anyone?

It's great to feel wanted! Thanks guys.

I posted North Kiteboarding's official stand on the 2007 "T" nozzel issue some weeks ago, Clearly explaining how to go about getting any issue you may encounter resolved. To those of you that missed it, yes there was a mysterious fault that did happen to a small percentage of bladders. And it seems to be something to do with heat and humidity. North have fixed this problem by altering the materials and glues used in the bladders. Were the big problem came from was the actual factory where the bladders are made, they were supposed to destroy all the old stock of bladders once this was known, instead they thought they'd make some more money and send the old one down under! Luckily we have since found out the cut off date from the old material to the new and have destroyed all old bladders. Every replacement bladder from now is only out of the latest batch using the new material.

Now, as a general comment, If you ever have a problem with any product from any brand, no matter what it is, I suggest contacting your local dealers, so they can contact the importer/distributors and so forth, to deal with the problem correctly. A lot of time is wasted dealing with such issues on a forum as people always seem to read things a different way as to how it was meant to be read, and from this people make opinions on a subject they know nothing about.

Please all people who are concerned about their 2007 2 pump North Kites, give your dealer a call and they will be able to give you any info you require.

Regards,

JB

Well matey, perhaps you should contact the distributor then.

P.M. JB and tell him your issue with your retailer.

JB: Thanks for the reply, I now understand why my kite is still leaking from defective T Valves even though all of the bladders were supposed to have been replaced. I am however in a totally different country to where I bought my kite and 350km away from the nearest kite shop.

On another issue, I am surprised that the Australian importer and distributor for North and Naish is the same company. It is not in the kite companies interest as they risk another brand being pushed at the expense of their own. It is also not in the customers interest because of reduced competition.

I'm not saying that is happening but the potential is there.

Simon

quote:

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Originally posted by Freddykite

And Windgenuity are not super easy to deal with. Friends of mine ordered stuff from them and the standard reply is 2 weeks. It's really annoying. Also, they are never pro-active. They only react when things are really bad.
Not really what I think is a great customer service.

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Freddykite,
Windgenuity is an importer: it does not deal with the public. Every single private enquiry is re-directed to a retailer.
For the "2 weeks " delay, I can't say what it refers to (dunno if you're talking about replying or item availability), but we are in Australia: one big island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean... In average, it does take 3 weeks (sometimes more) to get things over here! We don't deal with DHL, we're getting containers: it's not like we've got any way to accelerate the process... We try, hard, but sometimes things are out of our control (we can't tell in advance how long it will take to clear a container from the customs!). I believe our retailers are aware of this and understand the general shipping issues we're facing due to our location.
This delay in receiving goods is also partly responsible of the fact our whole warranty process got slowed down.
"They are never proative" got me jumping up the ceiling. And not due to some blind loyalty towards my employer (by the way, as usual I am posting this out of my working hours and NOT on work behalf), but purely out of respect for my 2 co-workers. I remember last year watching them put together the YOUNG BLOOD CAMP, which they did for free and was a massive success... Young riders like Andy Yates came out of this... They did it on top of their usual work load, and they did it solely based on a desire to pass on knowledge and give young riders a lifetime opportunity...
Why is it that when things are good, nobody pays attention to them, but everybody is really happy to jump on the first opportunity to point out what's bad?
-answering myself here: c'est la vie!-
We've never denied there was a problem with the "T" pieces and we've informed everyone when we found out about the faulty batch, whatever needed to be done has been done. We did not hide anything. New struts are been sent out daily. The process did get slow down due the faulty batch we got sent, we apologize for that. I'm not too sure there is anything more we can do at this stage... But keeping on replacing the struts until every single kite owner is satisfied....
So getting back to the "customer service" comment, customer service is essentially what we do all day long. We genuinely care about this industry and our entire focus is on our retailers...We have taken responsibility for the problem that occured, and we do understand some customers are unhappy.
Now, is posting on this forum going to change that?
I don't think so. I can not change the way people FEEL.
-the way I see it, the time I spend typing could be spent sending out more struts...I believe in a situation like this, actions are more efficient than words...-
Neither JB nor I will come ramble on this forum trying to explain or justify what our job is about. I've experienced in the past how bitterly posts can turn on Seabreeze: people are too happy to jump up one's throat, and I do know that getting involved with this thread is basicaly asking to get slaughtered... And I'm no masochist!
I have PM the people who had questions, anyone who does have further one is welcome to contact me, I am totally open to communication and willing to help, but I will not put myself in the front of the shooting line waiting for people to open fire: been there, done that, know better...
Regards
Em

Ive had my Vegas in use every day for 3 or 4 weeks now and today one of the T-valves blew out on one of the struts. I bought my kite in London a couple of months ago.

The valve itself is made from a semi-clear plastic, but its yellowing in places. The big round plastic thingy that is bonded to the bladder itself had shattered somehow.

I tried to fix the problem using the repair kit that came with the kite, but I think the glue destroyed the plastic that the valve was made of, and it completely came apart.

Took a closer look at the valve, gently flexing it 4 or 5 times and cracks appeared at the junction of the T-valve. For ****s sake, this part of the kite is flexing each time its inflated, and all day long in the wind. This is really shoddy materials in an essential part of the kite.

From what I read on the web, Im not the only one experiencing these problems.


Im now stuck in Cabarete, where there is no North dealer, and where FedEx is slow as ****, trying to figure out what to do.

I reckon Im going to replace all my bladders with ones from www.airtimekite.com

does the 07 rebel have the same problem?

Ran,

The Rebel 07 & 08 do not have the 2 pump system. Nor does the 2008 VEGAS. There fore there is no "T" nozzels.

Regards,

JB

Hats off to JB, thanks for getting me sorted out with my Rhino. This kite rocks, and your service is spot on. I understand the issues you had in dealing with this problem, and I doubt if it could have been handled any better by anyone. Thanks North.

Thanks Ran, it's not often we get praise in our dark little cave we call Windga.

Just a quick note to everyone, with everything you buy, there are always systems and procedured in place to deal with almost any problem of issue that may occur (and it does happen, nothing is 100% perfect), and as long the correct systems and procedures are followed service can be quick and relatively painless. FORUMS DO NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS OR ISSUES, they express opinions, which is great, but will not always help you. If you have an issue with any product (not just North or Naish) go to your dealer rather than having a sook on the forums, I don't know of any Australian Importer or distributor that is trying to rip anyone off, all the crew I know (just about everyone) are so passionate and supportive of the sport and their brands, they would just about loose an arm for them. I think the Australian industry is among the best in the world, well done team!

Regards,

JB

quote:

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Originally posted by JB
FORUMS DO NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS OR ISSUES, they express opinions, which is great, but will not always help you.

Regards,

JB

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Well there you go, forum-dwellers.
You've been fully warned by the distributor.
JB has given you the message loud and clear in no-uncertain terms.
He spelt it out in capital letters.
DON'T SOOK ON FORUMS.
lol.
And if you do...you'll be sorry.

He tells the punters that forums won't help you, that forums aren't very accurate for relaying info, that forums are time-wasting, that forums generally suck.
"But the forum is ok to announce product launches etc", he said.
lol.

quote:

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Originally posted by buz999

my brand new $56000 commodore's fuel pump **** itself a couple of months back only 2km's from the showroom floor i didn't contact the dealer i bought it from only 5 minutes before though,instead i had it towed home..
on my arrival home after my 45 minute taxi ride i posted a thread of my problem on a Holden forum which Holden regally advertises on(and can i add here it was a paying advert by Holden, not a team rider posting a thread on newly released gear).
to this day my brand new SS still sits in the driveway with only 2 km's on the clock,i have never had a reply from Holden and i cant understand why
p.s Waveslave you are a tool!!!!!!

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pmsl - that is fken funny

his avatar is spot on...double dickhead.

Its only 'slave.
Why take him so seriously?

In his defense he spells well and is generally grammatically correct.

quote:

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Originally posted by buz999

p.s Waveslave you are a tool.

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Nice.


Certain posters in this thread should really try to remain on-topic.
They need to focus on the matter at hand.
Bashing waveslave isn't the subject of this thread.
The haters can call me a 'looser', a TOOL, a double-dickhead (lol) all they like,
but that won't fix the North plumbing and pacify the discontent.
Slamming the concept of forums oneday, and then conveniently using them for new product announcements the next;
that won't help the problem either.

JB tells us that the issue is not North's fault.
It's the 3rd World bladder factory to blame.
Those factory fiends pulled the dud bladders out of the dumpster,
and slipped them into new kites when no-one was looking.
This happened when the North quality-controller was absent, probably out having a quick kite sess.
lol.